Tuesday (7/26) Two acclaimed, cutting-edge Korean music groups, the World Music group SE:UM and the Youngjoo Song Trio, meet for the first time in a groundbreaking joint performance! SE:UM is one of Korea’s most innovative ensembles, drawing instrumental, vocal, and improvisation techniques from both Korean and Western jazz traditions. Traditional Korean sounds mix with jazz, folk, and free form styles to create an entirely new and exciting fusion. Youngjoo Song Trio is led by Jazz pianist Youngjoo Song, currently an active performer in Seoul and New York City. She quickly climbed the music charts in her native Korea to become one of her country’s leading jazz artists. She headlined the Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York, among other major events, and twice won for Best Jazz and Crossover Album at the Korean Music Awards. The Korean Cultural Center Washington, DC partnered for the first time with the DC Jazz Festival to bring us this remarkable event. It begins at 8pm.

Wednesday (7/27)Virginia Music Adventures presents a night of jazz featuring Summer Institute Ensembles, VMA’s award winning Faculty/Alumni Band, and a special guest appearance fromThe Doc Dikeman Big Band! Virginia Music Adventures’ Summer Institute Ensembles delight audiences with jazz through the ages from Swing to Funk. The Ensembles are made up of promising young musicians who share their passion for jazz in performances all around the world. The Doc Dikeman Big Band features a range of music from big band favorites from the ‘30s to contemporary compositions. Started by Theron “Doc” Dikeman in the 1970s, the band has toured Germany and Barbados and has performed at many venues in the DC area, including the Wolf Trap Center for the Performing Arts, the Kennedy Center, and the Music Center at Strathmore. The concert begins at 8pm.

Thursday (7/28) Please join us in welcoming our featured artist of the week… Molly Ringwald! Molly Ringwald has starred in over a dozen Hollywood blockbusters including Pretty In Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles, but her true passion is The Great American Songbook. Having grown up in a musical household with a jazz musician father, this latest turn in Ringwald’s career is much more of a homecoming than a departure. This special performance with be a tribute to Nat “King” and Natalie Cole with Molly Ringwald, Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra, and two of Natalie Cole’s bandmates including world-renowned trumpeter, Bijon Watson. Dave Damiani & The No Vacancy Orchestra has presented a series of unique featured artists at BBJ this summer. They are in constant rotation on XM 71 Siriusly Sinatra and radio stations all over the country. Eighties teen movie fans and jazz fans alike will love this show will love Molly Ringwald! The show starts at 8pm.

Friday (7/29) The band that toured the world with the Godfather of Go-Go carries the torch and keeps the DC beat alive. The Chuck Brown Band continues to keep the legacy going by performing all your Chuck Brown and Go-Go favorites, creating new music, and bringing on board new fans and followers. With three new songs on the final Chuck Brown album, Beautiful Life, and rave reviews from longtime fans and new fans, The Chuck Brown Band is dedicated to the heartbeat of the DMV: Go-Go. With the addition of Frank Sirius on guitar and vocals, the rest of the band is intact, including Chuck’s daughter KK, The Horny Horns, Kenny “Kwickfoot” Gross, Mighty Moe Hagans, Karlston “Ice” Ross, Sweet Cherie Agurs, and Marcus Young.com. Ain’t no party like a Chuck Brown party, ‘cause a Chuck Brown party don’t stop. Every show still starts with “Wind Me Up” and doesn’t stop until the dance floor is empty. The party starts at 8pm.

Saturday (7/30) We’ve got bluesy rockers The Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson! For over 30 years, The Fabulous Thunderbirds have been the quintessential American band. The group’s distinctive and powerful sound, influenced by a diversity of musical styles, manifested itself into a unique musical hybrid via such barnburners as “Tuff Enuff” and “Wrap It Up.” Co-founder Kim Wilson, the sole original member, still spearheads the group as it evolves into its newest incarnation. In addition to Wilson, the current Thunderbirds line-up features Jay Moeller on drums, Johnny Moeller and Mike Keller on guitar, and Randy Bermudes on bass. In 1979, The Fabulous Thunderbirds released their first self-titled album. Primarily blues influenced, it became a cult classic. In subsequent releases, the band started to incorporate more Cajun, rock ‘n roll and soul influences. In 1986, they reached a commercial peak with the album, Tuff Enuff. You’ll also love special guests The Bobby Thompson Project! The show kicks off at 8pm.

Sunday (7/31) The encore performance of the highly acclaimed In Celebration of Merle, Tribute2Merle gathers the same incredible line up of Roots Rock, Americana and Country artists from around the DC/MDVA area. The show is a thorough look at the hits and lesser known gems from of one of the greatest songwriters in American music history. Dubbed the “poet of the common man” Merle Haggard had a way of simply drawing people into his songs through great melodies and lyrics that everyone could relate to. Delivering Merle’s songs will be Bob Berberich, Ty Braddock, Domenic Cicala, Karen Collins, Craig Cummings, Tony Denikos, Kevin Dudley, Janet Emma, Gary Lee Gimble, Greg Hardin, Martha Hull, David Kitchen, Jeff Kurtz, Gantt Kushner, Ruthie Logsdon, Mark Noone, and Bill Starks. Limited VIP tickets include seating close to the stage and a swag bag of goodies from some of the artists. The tribute starts at 7:30pm.